THE BIG BOOK OF BOY STUFF by Bart King
Illustrated by Chris Sabatino
Category: Non-Fiction
Age Recommendation: Grades 6+
Release Date: 7/15/04
Publisher: Gibbs Smith
Reviewed by: Jennifer Wardrip, aka "The Genius"
Rating: 5 Stars
THE BIG BOOK OF BOY STUFF is, without a doubt, the book all parents of a boy between the ages of eight and eighty
need to buy their son. Why? Because, quite simply, if you're looking for a book that your son will read, this is it. Actually,
once they start, you'll probably have a hard time prying it from their sticky, grimy, dirt-covered fingers.
The book is based, possibly loosely, and possibly even more loosely based on my own interpretation, on the three
indispensable elements of a boy's world as quoted by Sir Robert Baden-Powell, a World War I veteran and founder of the
Boy Scouts of America: "Fun, feeding, and fighting." As the mother of a nine-year-old son who also happens to be a Cub
Scout (a division of the Boy Scouts up to the first half of fifth grade), I can attest that Sir Baden-Powell was totally, 100%
accurate in his beliefs.
THE BIG BOOK OF BOY STUFF is divided into several "categories" which include: Activities; Dogs and Others;
Emergencies; Experiments; Fireworks and Explosions; Flying Things; Fun in the Outdoors; Gadgets; Tools, and Toys;
Indoor Games; Outdoor Games; Girls, Bullies, and Parties; Gross Stuff; Halloween: October 31st; Holidays; Insults; Jokes;
Juggling and Yo-Yos; Magic; Making Faces! Making Sounds!; Man Food for Manhood; Practical Jokes; Rhetorical
Questions; Riddles; Slang; Storytelling; Tongue Twisters Rule; Video Games; Weapons; Famous Last Words; and
Recommended Reading. And before you pull out the parental advisory or adult supervision cards, please be assured that
any and all activities that could be considered even slightly dangerous come complete with safety instructions, warnings,
and, yes, rules for adult supervision and/or parental advisories.
This book is, in a word, fun. Fun for the boys (or girls!) that read it, and fun for the parents who watch their kids enjoy
reading and experimenting. To see your child bury their nose in a book--out of desire instead of need--is a wonderful thing
indeed. Although some parents will no doubt be grossed out by some of the things their children find hilarious, getting your
kid to sit down and actually read a book that makes them think is well worth it.
Kudos to Mr. King for such a great book. I for one can't wait for the release of THE BIG BOOK OF GIRLS' STUFF,
which is slated for release in October 2006.
The Big Book of Boy Stuff
by Bart King